Lillian Athey Lass Luvaas was born in Exeter, Missouri, January 22, 1927, the daughter of Frank and Selma Watke Athey. At age three she moved to Denison where she received her education, graduating from the Denison High School with Normal Training with the class of 1945. Following high school she taught in the Jackson Township Number 1 rural school.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1947, Lillian united in marriage with Mearl Luvaas at the First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa. They made their home at the east edge of Denison where their union was blessed with three children, Louis, Lois and Larry.

In addition to caring for her family Lillian was employed through the years as a County Field Assessor in Denison and a Research Interviewer for Audits of Great Britain, Weste of Rockville, Maryland for fifteen years and for University of Michigan Institute of Social Research for twenty years, retiring in 2005.

Having been baptized in 1929 and confirmed in 1943, Lillian was a longtime active member of First United Methodist Church in Denison where as a teen she was in Choir, and through the years served as a member and chairperson of United Methodist Women, was a Sunday School Teacher and served on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Ad Board and Memorial Committee.

As a giving person many organizations in the Denison community benefited from Lillian’s generous spirit of volunteerism. She served as a leader of the Victory Girls 4-H Club, President of the Campfire Girls, president two years and secretary for five years of the Crawford County Historical Society, serving as a tour guide at the Dow House in the summer and assisting at the McHenry House Christmas open houses, Collector’s Club, Cub Scout assistant leader, Red Cross First Aid Teacher, Donna Reed Foundation and the Care Review Committee of Eventide. Along with her husband Mearl, they were crowned the prince and princess of the Denison Sesquicentennial. In her spare time she enjoyed collecting dolls, dishes and traveling. She will be remembered by her family as a number one mom and devoted and loving grandmother cherishing the time she spent with her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild.

Lillian died Tuesday evening [Dec. 15] at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 82 years, 10 months and 23 days.

In addition to her parents, Jens and Selma Lass, Lillian was also preceded in death by an infant half sister, Maria Bumann and a daughter-in-law, Elaine Luvaas.

Those remaining to cherish her memory include her husband, Mearl Luvaas of Denison, three children, Louis Luvaas and wife, Sandy of Denison, Lois and husband, Robert Sailors of Silverthorne, Colorado and Larry Luvaas of Urbandale, Iowa, seven grandchildren, Jill and husband, Grant Thompson of Sioux City, Iowa, Charles Sailors, Anna and husband, Vince Knapp and Timothy Sailors all of Denver, Colorado, Carmen Luvaas of Norwalk, Iowa, Shane Luvaas of Grimes, Iowa and James Luvaas and wife, Kelly of Hastings, Nebraska, two step grandchildren, Michael Yankey and wife, Sherry of Sloan, Iowa and Tracy and husband, Gary Arndt of Grand Island, Nebraska, 11 great grandchildren, 4 step great grandchildren, one step great great granddaughter, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Music for the service included the congregation singing “In The Garden” and “Old Rugged Cross” with Nancy Miles serving as organist. A special vocal solo, “Amazing Grace” was rendered by Lillian’s great granddaughter, Regan Luvaas. Those serving as pallbearers included Ronald Rothe, Roger Rothe, David Rothe, Arnold Heide, Michael Welch and Robert Curnyn. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Following the interment all were invited to return to the church and share in fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the United Methodist Women.